Whos in the know about the slow hot slow?

moknots · 08-11-2008, 03:35 PM

August and kokanee.... some days are hot fishing, others are most definitely NOT. Still trying to construct a pattern. Any thoughts?

Just fished Crescent and it was dead dead dead, according to our lifeless rods, the campground host and all the fishermen we talked to. First time I've been skunked there.

I've had some of my very best, and very worst kokanee fishing in August at Wickiup and at Suttle. With plenty of results contrary to the conventional wisdom I've heard so far. Who's in the know? Please enlighten

I know, I know, "that's fishing", but we've heard some good chat about lake turnover, now how about warmer water temps, prespawn staging, and any other good ideas you have about what turns the little buggers on....., and off.

Dullhook · 08-11-2008, 04:49 PM

Well, I'm sure as heck not in the know.This is the first time in over three decades doing any fishing for kokes or trout this late in the year. It's going to be a true learning experience and I'll be relying on a lot of the reports posted here on where (or where not) to camp and fish. Do know that August and early September are the "dog days" and fishing sometimes can be tough to say the least before the lakes start turning over again. Maybe it's just hit or miss? Just being at the right place at the right time when the bite is on. Not as consistent or reliable as earlier in the season when bad weather and wind are the determining factors. I sure don't know. At least the weather is great this time of year and we can spend more time out on the water applying our trade.

Did have pretty good success over at Paulina this month and have heard first hand reports that East has been okay for kokes too. Of course that can change overnight. Other than that I'm clueless. Wanted to make another trip over to Crescent or Odell within the next month since they're both so much closer to home than the crater. I will be watching this forum for reports like yours first. Did notice that some of the bigger kokes at Paulina were already starting to show some color.

ElkTalker · 08-11-2008, 06:05 PM

Kokanee in August is very interesting to say the least. This time of year the kokanee should start schooling as they prepare for the spawn. In some lakes this happens sooner then others. Crescent lake in the last two years has been one of the last to see the big schools of spawning fish.

Right now at Crescent Lake I would say the fish are still spread out so trolling will out produce jigging and I would recommend staying away from the big gang trolls like the ford fender mainly do to the temperament of the fish.

I fished Crescent Lake this same week last year. Out of 12 or more boats I talked to in two days of fishing I only saw 17 kokanee caught. All 17 were in my boat. Most of the fish I caught were on the bottom in 70� of water. I fished 65� deep with my spinners and dodgers and almost every fish we landed was a buck. I did lose some gear but it was just about the only way I could catch a fish.

Good luck. ET

joemomma · 08-11-2008, 08:39 PM

The mystery! I agree! Remeber some hot August fishing on Your Odell, 63 in 3 hrs on hand crankers

2 days later couldn't buy a bite! Sure like the weather though!

dlm · 08-12-2008, 06:28 AM

Sounds like maybe they are deep and lethargic due to warm water?

Splash · 08-12-2008, 08:40 AM

Those buggers are still fattening up so they gotta be eating something. Food sources migrate around lakes too. Feed can be in one area one day and somewhere else the next.

On Merwin for instance (since i mostly fish it for kokes) early season they were fattening up on some pretty good chironomid hatches (I do keep threatening myself to start taking a flyrod with me). Remember the flatlining because they were on the surface? There were still signs of fish on the surface even after the water warmed up and the bulk of the fish went deeper. One may possibly have to think bugs and match the hatch on a still bait. Then again how do you sink a bug 60-70 feet?

Just thinking out loud and remembering reading tidbits from some obscure California article finds. When somebody figures it out let me know will ya?

And this from a guy that stunk the place up his last trip out.

ElkTalker may be on to something.

Fish can be territorial and strike out of aggression.

marshworm · 08-12-2008, 10:28 AM

At first glance looking back at years of notes in "the book" for the month of August didn't reveal much until I looked at moknots question from a wider angle. The info given here was gathered on Suttle Lake only. Don't know for sure but given the "weird" fishing reports on ifish all year suggests to me other area lakes were affected also.
When comparing May, June and July as a whole rather than individual months on the average I find the lake took 29 days longer to thaw, the surface water temp took 22 days longer to reach the 48 degree average, the snow pack on the ground in the Link Creek basin (which not counting springs is the total water source for Suttle) averaged 48 days longer, the water temp of link creek was 5 degrees colder than the average on June 1st and was 31 days longer hitting the average June temp and it still is 2 degrees below average.

My notes also show that the normal July fishing is now going on at Suttle with the size of the algae blooms just now getting to the size they were on July 6th last year.

So make what you will of it, I think it's a weather caused situation that has the fish just as flustered as us who are trying to catch them. But make no mistake about it, this year still holds some terrific days of koke fishing ahead for those of us that will think out of the norm.

This is the time and a golden opportunity to try and do things differently. It is so easy and natural to stay with what put fish in the boat last year. That's fine except this isn't last year. A few of you already are aware of some of the things this jiggernut is trying. It's fun and exciting to think out side the box, your tackle box that is!!

moknots · 08-12-2008, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marshworm

At first glance looking back at years of notes in "the book" for the month of August didn't reveal much until I looked at moknots question from a wider angle. The info given here was gathered on Suttle Lake only. Don't know for sure but given the "weird" fishing reports on ifish all year suggests to me other area lakes were affected also.
When comparing May, June and July as a whole rather than individual months on the average I find the lake took 29 days longer to thaw, the surface water temp took 22 days longer to reach the 48 degree average, the snow pack on the ground in the Link Creek basin (which not counting springs is the total water source for Suttle) averaged 48 days longer, the water temp of link creek was 5 degrees colder than the average on June 1st and was 31 days longer hitting the average June temp and it still is 2 degrees below average.

My notes also show that the normal July fishing is now going on at Suttle with the size of the algae blooms just now getting to the size they were on July 6th last year.

So make what you will of it, I think it's a weather caused situation that has the fish just as flustered as us who are trying to catch them. But make no mistake about it, this year still holds some terrific days of koke fishing ahead for those of us that will think out of the norm.

This is the time and a golden opportunity to try and do things differently. It is so easy and natural to stay with what put fish in the boat last year. That's fine except this isn't last year. A few of you already are aware of some of the things this jiggernut is trying. It's fun and exciting to think out side the box, your tackle box that is!!

NICELY PERCIEVED, NICELY STATED! THANKS FOR COMPILING, DIGESTING, SURMIZING AND REPORTING! I NEED ONE OF THOSE BOOKS. KEEP SAYING I WILL LOG, I WILL LOG I REALLY WILL LOG.... TOTAL LACK OF DISCIPLINE I GUESS.

twisted lines · 08-13-2008, 06:22 AM

[quote=moknots;2126353]
Just fished Crescent and it was dead dead dead, according to our lifeless rods, the campground host and all the fishermen we talked to. First time I've been skunked there.

First time I was there but I took a beating......

Dullhook · 08-13-2008, 12:37 PM

It's really good to be able to tap into some of the excellent fishing knowledge people are willing to share on this forum. About the extent of my fishing science is to try to find some fish on the finder, tie a jig on the end of the line, and move my arm up and down. Then just hope like heck that they're biting

.This is the best place on ifish where an old dog can definitely learn something new.

SilverBullets · 08-17-2008, 07:13 AM

Sure wish I could explain it for you. I do know this year has been different than the past 5 years. Whether it can be related to the long winter, or global warming who the heck knows. I have always done well trolling through Sept. This year it has really been a challenge to limit out most trips. Jigging I think normally lasts through Memorial Day at Paulina, this year it has been the ticket up through a couple weeks ago. Some how managed to get our limits on Friday... full moon and extreme heat...go figure! I have not caught a spawner yet, past years seems like I would have already seen a few. I think the main thing is to think out side the norm, and be willing to try different things. The fishfinder screen has looked different all season than years past. Thermocline has not been the same this year, and seems like the fish are more scattered than previous years at this time.